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In Russia and the former USSR, the extreme combat sport MMA has become a social phenomenon. The champions are superstars, adulated by their fans and paid fortunes. More than a sport, MMA is a social elevator, a political tool and even an instrument of propaganda glorifying the Russian man: virile, invincible and ready to defend the fatherland.
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00:00a typical Sunday morning in suburban Moscow a makeshift ring had been set up
00:13amongst the high-rise blocks some sand rope and wooden crates so the audience
00:22has somewhere to sit down like every other weekend neighbors are getting
00:27together in the parking lot to watch dozens of amateur MMA or mixed martial
00:32arts matches those fighting are allowed to punch kick elbow and knee their
00:38opponents and even hit them when they're on the ground there's always a doctor on
00:46standby as he waits for his turn Andre Malikov is warming up in a corner an
01:00unemployed 22 year old he has traveled over 600 miles by carpooling from the
01:05countryside to get to the capital city this is the first time he'll step into
01:20the ring he signed up when he arrived his baptism of fire
01:35airs against a 30-year-old lawyer who seems a lot fitter than him and a more
01:40seasoned street-fighter
01:41it's not long before Andre is in trouble he takes a
02:05good few hits before his opponent tries to strangle him on the ground
02:18but despite the odds being stacked against him Andre makes a fairy tale
02:24come back it is becoming an even match
02:31he's afraid to fight to fight to fight to catch up
02:37to catch up to catch up to catch up to catch up to catch up to catch up to catch up to
02:38boy boy
02:41what after four intense minutes the referee finally ends the match
02:49for Andre a draw is as good as a victory
03:06for Andre a draw is as good as a victory
03:13no medal for Andre just a photo with two ring girls
03:23not the greatest reward but the young man is ready to try again as soon as possible
03:41he's one of the millions of Russians who share a passion for MMA the sport has spread
03:50across the entire country with its celebrities amateurs dreams and champion training centers
03:57MMA has taken over the entire country even in the most remote areas of Russia deep in the
04:04Caucasus mountains kids are being trained morning through night to become future champions
04:09for a lot of families having a successful fighting career is the only opportunity to escape poverty
04:28these young boys and girls dream of becoming fighting stars and living the glamorous lifestyle
04:34yes it's traumatic but compared to the seconds when you raise your hand
04:41it's not true, yes I have a lot of money
04:45yes it's not true, yes I have a Mercedes
04:48I have a sport
04:51however MMA has become a political weapon in the country
04:54and just young it's used as a platform for a dictator
04:58in Moscow MMA can lead even to political power
05:08MMA has given and taken a lot for me
05:10now it's time for me to give back
05:13and I love this, I really love this country
05:17some even become fight organizers
05:21with tens of millions of fans across the country
05:24businessmen are cashing in on this opportunity
05:27my small collection
05:31this is a gift from YouTube
05:33Street Fighter for basically 1 million subscribers
05:37this is our investigation into MMA in Russia
05:40mixed martial arts
05:42a lot more than just a sport
05:44it's a phenomenon
05:46Dagestan is a republic
05:49independent from the Russian Federation
05:50situated in the heart of the Caucasus Mountains
05:54a poor and rural region
05:56where one of the only ways out
05:57is to become an MMA champion
06:00we travel to the small village of Imushi
06:05about 5,000 feet above sea level
06:08it has just 200 inhabitants
06:11including Abu Leyev's family
06:12it's 7am, the start of the day
06:22and for 14 year old Haji Murat
06:24the start of his training
06:26he's on school holidays
06:28but there's no time for relaxation
06:30without a scrap of food in his belly
06:33he's watched closely by his mother
06:35as he works out
06:37he alternates between abdominal exercises
06:40abdominal exercises
06:41and pull-ups
06:44the fate of his entire family
06:46rests in his hands
06:51wrapped up to fight the cold
06:53he heads off for a 5-mile run
06:56in the mountain
07:04his father watches him like a hawk
07:06a walk
07:10I have to make a goal for every day
07:12every day
07:14every day
07:15it's hard to do
07:17but it's not
07:19what you want
07:21as you want
07:23to achieve
07:25a lot of things
07:27I teach
07:29something
07:31to achieve something
07:32you have to lose
07:33his father is his first coach
08:03no time to rest for haji murat however who then gets his gloves for another half hour of training
08:25this intense rhythm has allowed him to become daga stands number one under 14s foot fist boxing
08:37champion we can see him here in the cage wearing the red helmet he hasn't lost a match yet
08:55haji murat is the youngest member of the family and shares his room with his big brother both
09:06boys take part in fighting sports but it's little haji murat who has impressed his parents the most
09:12for now haji murat's talent isn't bringing any money to the family and they still need to eat
09:37his parents bake bread in their garage to sell it to their neighbors in the village
09:46the bush
09:46so much
09:52sport it's not the best direction in life
09:58and character is
09:59so much as much as he can after his training he delivers the bread
10:25but he has bigger dreams become the family's breadwinner
10:28the holidays are almost over and haji murat is preparing to go back to school
10:55to give himself the best chance he attends a champion training center which should make him dagestan's
11:03newest star haji murat dreams of walking in the footsteps of the region's biggest idol
11:09khabib dermagomedov mma's global superstar who comes from a small village just a few miles away from here
11:18nicknamed the eagle he became world champion in the sport
11:22he earns millions of dollars and is constantly on tv and billboards
11:32he became legendary after fighting a bear at only eight years old encouraged by his father most likely to toughen him up
11:40after gaining the title he was welcomed in person by vladimir putin
11:52he was equally welcomed like a king by ramzan khadirov president of neighboring chechnya
12:08posing with a star like khabib is good publicity it even earns him a mercedes as a parting gift
12:15khabib has become the most famous man from dagestan
12:26one man who makes the most of his fame is his father
12:32he was the one who pushed his son into the arms of a bear when he was young
12:36he manages a training center in macha kala the capital of dagestan
12:55thanks to his son abdu manap has also become something of a celebrity
12:59his training center has become hugely successful
13:06everyone wants to sign up to the champions club where it all started for khabib
13:12his father's philosophy is that both
13:41discipline and payment are no laughing matter
13:55the only break they get is to pray which is included in the program
14:13dagestan has a very strict muslim community the business brings in a lot of money the training
14:20center's reputation has spread past the country's borders khabib's father
14:24receives requests from all over the world candidates are ready for anything either for themselves or for
14:31their children
14:40oh
14:47MMA can lead to many opportunities in Dagestan.
14:51It's a good investment for the parents.
14:57MMA can lead to many opportunities in Dagestan.
15:01It's a good investment for the parents.
15:17We are back with young Haji Murat at home.
15:25He is headed back to his boarding school,
15:27a champion martial arts training center.
15:47His father is driving him.
16:00He's made many sacrifices for his son.
16:17It's a good money jewel.
16:29On the way, Haji Murat and his dad
16:31stop to visit the richest man in the region,
16:34a descendant of the Tsars.
16:36He acts as the teenager's protector.
16:39Ketmaz Awaskia is 62 years old,
16:42with two wives and seven children.
16:47He has decided to sponsor the teenager.
16:52His parents don't earn enough to pay for his school.
16:55It's up to the young man to remember him later on,
16:59if he succeeds.
17:01His mentor insisted on maintaining patriotic values.
17:05So, these boys' skills have 100-year-old traditions.
17:14And, you know, these traditions continue to be very successful.
17:18Sport, the unity of sports,
17:20the boys' style of sport,
17:22is our only weapon today.
17:25And they are used to possess these skills.
17:29A short folk song is then sung to give him strength.
17:39The most important thing is to recommend
17:42to give him strength with his son.
17:43For the first time,
17:44he is on his side of the bus.
17:45The first time he is on his side of the bus,
17:46the second time he is on his side of the bus.
17:47The first reason is,
17:48the first time he is on his side of the bus.
17:49And after the last time,
17:50he wanted to take off the bus on his side of the bus.
17:51Haji Murat heads off in a minibus the next morning.
18:11He is heading to the five directions of the World School, hidden deep in Dagestan's mountains,
18:17a completely unique institution where the best fighters in the region are trained.
18:23250 students aged between 10 and 18 years old.
18:33It's a fast-paced school.
18:34On top of school, there's four hours of fighting, six days a week.
18:47After the school salute, the first training session starts before breakfast.
18:54Running, push-ups, sit-ups.
19:02Haji Murat may be the smallest, but he's the most promising.
19:14He is always the example used to demonstrate moves for the other students.
19:28Haji Murat is also one of the most motivated.
19:31It's already a sure thing that he'll become a professional fighter.
19:38It's always a good fight.
19:41There are guys who do this in the city.
19:46They do it for three or four times a week.
19:48But we do it for two times a week.
19:52After an intense session, the students are finally allowed a protein-packed breakfast,
20:03followed by three hours of class, history, math, and Russian.
20:10It's difficult for students to keep up, what with the lack of sleep and sheer amount of sport.
20:21Haji Murat is having trouble paying attention.
20:25Then, it's straight back to fighting.
20:29Everyone has their own specialty.
20:32Here, Taekwondo lessons.
20:34Haji Murat is working on his second daily training session.
20:45On today's program, stretching.
20:48The children need to be as flexible as dancers.
20:52They should also be prepared to take punches.
20:56The session ends with a one-to-one, with a helmet for protection.
21:18Towards the end of the school day, a man interrupts their class.
21:22He is immediately surrounded by kids.
21:24It's Huzain Magomedov, the school's founder.
21:27The school has impressive alumni.
21:42A tiny school in a tiny region, which has churned out many world champions.
21:48Haji Murat is the first champion of the world in the heavyweight world.
21:53Haji Murat is the king of Haji Murat.
21:55The king of Haji Murat is the king of Haji Murat.
21:57He has been the champion of the world in the five times.
22:00The years of war, which we had to carry out,
22:07we were forced to carry out a certain type of war.
22:13This genotype continues to work, but only focused on sports.
22:20But a dark cloud hangs above the students.
22:23Jihadism.
22:25A lot of young people in the region have joined ISIS,
22:28recruited by extremists hidden in the mountains.
22:31It's the principal's biggest problem.
22:33Yes, yes.
22:35Religious extremism.
22:36You know, like the kids leave,
22:39they collect them, they say something.
22:42They...
22:43Because they have no teachers,
22:46they have no ability to teach.
22:48They have no idea of terrorism.
22:50This position has cost the school dearly.
22:54This place was a two-stage building that burned.
23:00It was a childhood building.
23:02The school has been victim to four arson attacks
23:05over the past few years.
23:07Let's go, let's go.
23:09We'll get it.
23:10We'll get it.
23:11We'll get it.
23:12All night.
23:13All night.
23:14All night.
23:15All night.
23:16All night.
23:17All night.
23:18All night.
23:19All night.
23:20All night.
23:21All night.
23:22All night.
23:23All night.
23:24All night.
23:25All night.
23:26All night.
23:27All night.
23:28All night.
23:29All night.
23:30All night.
23:31All night.
23:32All night.
23:33All night.
23:34All night.
23:35All night.
23:36All night.
23:37All night.
23:38All night.
23:39All night.
23:40All night.
23:41All night.
23:42All night.
23:43All night.
23:44All night.
23:45All night.
23:46All night.
23:47All night.
23:48All night.
23:49All night.
23:50All night.
23:51All night.
23:52All night.
23:53admire the former students, now MMA stars, who come back to train and serve as an example.
24:01The school walls are plastered with their portraits.
24:05Champions rather than terrorists, MMA is used as a political weapon.
24:12Here it is used to fight extremism, but in the neighboring regions it's used to feed
24:17the ambitions of a dictator.
24:20We headed to Chechnya, the Russian Republic neighboring Dagestan, led with an iron fist
24:25by Ramzan Kadyrov.
24:31Kadyrov has made MMA his personal platform, giving his country a glorious image, while
24:40human rights abuses are happening daily.
24:43He likes to introduce himself using music on his Instagram account.
24:50As a well-trained president who lifts weights, runs for hours, and even pulls trucks using
24:59only his own strength, a manly republic led by a manly president.
25:13In the capital city of Grozny, a huge arena has been built for MMA.
25:19Every weekend, fighters come from across the world for matches.
25:23We are allowed to attend one of the evenings.
25:33The room is packed, and President Kadyrov has the best seat in the house.
25:38He is the most enthusiastic in the crowd.
25:45The highlight of tonight's show is a boxing match fought by his own 13-year-old son.
26:01His opponent barely attempts to fight back.
26:06He chooses instead to just protect himself.
26:10It's best not to risk hurting Kadyrov Jr., and above all, to avoid hurting the president's
26:16pride.
26:26The match was obviously fixed, but Dad is still delighted.
26:31Kadyrov is incredibly invested in combat sports, especially MMA, using them as a tool to enhance
26:38the region's image, as well as his own reputation.
26:45He has launched MMA clubs all over Chechnya.
26:49He has even developed his own professional league and built up a team of champions who fight
26:53under his colors.
26:56Chabors, which translates as half-bear, half-wolf, is the star of Kadyrov's team, five-time MMA
27:03world champion, and 100% sponsored by the president.
27:07Chabors' face is plastered across every street, alongside one other person, of course.
27:14Chabors' face is plastered across every street, alongside one other person, of course.
27:31Chabors' face is plastered across every street, alongside one other person, of course.
27:46And the president hasn't just given him cars.
27:49Kadyrov moved him into a luxury apartment in Grozny's wealthiest area.
27:53Chabors' face is plastered across every street.
28:18But the best item in his collection is most definitely his MMA champion's belt.
28:23There are four clubs now in the museum.
28:27We're all in the sport.
28:29We're all in the museum with Ramzana Kadyrov, our head.
28:32He's there.
28:33But this club, he left me specifically, because it's my favorite club, League Ahmad.
28:40The TV has MMA channels showing constantly, a comfortable lifestyle and plenty of money.
28:46However, there's one hitch.
28:48Kadyrov controls everything, even his comings and goings.
28:53We're going to wait.
28:55I wanted to go there and see.
28:58But as our boss decided, I'll go, I'll go, I'll go.
29:03So I'll be going for my own.
29:05We were intrigued by the fact that champions in Kadyrov's club, like Chabors, weren't really
29:12free.
29:13We were given the right to visit, but under two conditions.
29:17No shots of the outside of the building, and no questions, which may offend.
29:33The club's purpose is also a sensitive subject here, as many suspect it's the secret base
29:38for the Cheshien Special Forces.
29:49The head coach welcomes us, warning us that only two topics were up for discussion – sport
29:55and the president.
30:19Amongst the portraits of champions, one photo draws our attention.
30:32Nicknamed Patriot, Vizmurodov has been accused by several NGOs of assassinations and human rights
30:39abuses.
30:40He runs both the club and the Cheshien Special Forces, who for the past four years have been
30:45persecuting homosexuals in the region.
30:48At least 10 have been arrested, tortured, and most probably killed.
30:54Vizmurodov is a very discreet man, who doesn't give interviews to Westerners.
31:03The whole room suddenly went quiet – Vizmurodov has just arrived – a surprise visit for his
31:10pupils.
31:38A young man gave him some drawings he had done of him and his friend, Ramzan Kadyrov.
31:45A young man gave him some drawings he had done of him and his friend, Ramzan Kadyrov.
31:59He's the boss here – he is both feared and respected.
32:24Vizmurodov.
32:31He's a little tired, but he goes to the end.
32:36We tried to get closer.
32:45That's all we got from Patriot.
32:57It's understandable that he's suspicious of foreign camera crews.
33:01Because of the role he played in torturing homosexuals in Chechnya, all his foreign assets have been frozen.
33:07And he's been banned from the USA.
33:10It's better to stay discreet.
33:12Mixing politics and MMA is not just Chechnya's specialty.
33:16We headed to Moscow, the capital of Russia.
33:21Here, too, physical strength is valued by the authorities.
33:26President Putin likes to present himself as a brave man and an accomplished athlete in front of the cameras.
33:35As a seasoned skier or pro ice hockey player, he shows no fear diving in a submersible or even stroking a baby panther.
33:50Above all, he doesn't miss an opportunity to show off his black belt in judo.
33:56Fighting is everything here.
33:59Combat sports are extremely popular in the country.
34:03And it's not just a male sport.
34:06We met up with 29-year-old Alexandra Albu, one of the biggest female MMA stars in Russia.
34:13Here.
34:16This is a octagon.
34:18We all love octagon, so all of them fall in MMA and all of them.
34:24She spends her days training with her coach.
34:27It's her passion.
34:29Despite her law degree, Alexandra now focuses on combat sports.
34:41She has a black belt in karate, is a champion bodybuilder, and is preparing for her next fight in the UFC league, the most prestigious in MMA.
34:52Yes, of course.
34:53Everyone is afraid.
34:54Not only me.
34:55But this is all the trick.
34:56It's to overcome yourself, to overcome this fear.
34:57Female MMA is exactly the same as the male version.
34:59The same intensity.
35:00The same risks.
35:01The same risks.
35:02Female MMA is exactly the same as the male version.
35:08The same intensity.
35:09The same risks.
35:10Female MMA is exactly the same as the male version.
35:12The same intensity.
35:13The same risks.
35:17The male version.
35:18The male version.
35:19They broke my nose.
35:20It's not the first time.
35:21You don't feel anything in the octagon.
35:22Because there's adrenaline.
35:23Yes, it's traumatic.
35:24But it's traumatic.
35:25But it's traumatic.
35:26But it's traumatic compared to victory, compared to the seconds when you lift your hand.
35:36But Alexandra wanted to transform her image from a buff bully to a beauty queen.
35:47After having punched and kicked for hours, she heads off to the salon for hair and makeup.
35:52A second session for her double life.
35:55Well, I think that my mother was a very strong man in my life.
36:22To earn more than just match money,
36:24Alexandra Albu has become a social media influencer.
36:28A glamour model.
36:47She dances, poses, and posts photos and videos online.
36:52This blend of violence and glamour makes a killing.
36:55And this influencer has tens of thousands of followers on Instagram.
36:59Thanks to her notoriety, she has since become a personal trainer.
37:00It's more of a press and a little bit on a leg.
37:01For 100 dollars an hour.
37:02She has become a personal trainer.
37:03For 100 dollars an hour.
37:04For 100 dollars an hour.
37:05That's why she comes back to me.
37:06It's a beautiful thing, right?
37:08It's nice to see a beautiful thing,
37:10and a creative thing.
37:13So, beauty, it's necessary.
37:19Thanks to her notoriety,
37:21she has since become a personal trainer.
37:28For $100 an hour.
37:32That's why they come to me.
37:34They have beautiful faces and figures.
37:36It's summer.
37:37It's like the peak of time for training.
37:40And at this point,
37:43I have a lot of clients,
37:44and there's a huge crowd.
37:46She'll now be able to have a career
37:48once she stops throwing punches in the ring.
37:51However, in a Moscow suburb,
37:53one man, also an MMA fighter,
37:55has had an even more radical career change.
37:58He's moved from the fighting cage
38:00to the political arena.
38:02We go to Krasnogorsk,
38:04150,000 inhabitants,
38:06infamous for its high levels of corruption.
38:09We have a meeting with the town's deputy mayor,
38:1248-year-old Jeff Monson,
38:14who weighs in at 242 pounds.
38:17A political anomaly.
38:18He's American,
38:20knows nothing about running a town,
38:22and was given permission to run by Vladimir Putin,
38:25purely because of his stardom in the world of MMA.
38:29My work here is one time, one day a month,
38:31for like three hours.
38:32Just coming and meeting with the other deputats
38:35about, like, social issues or problems.
38:39And I'll talk about some of these problems.
38:41Jeff Monson grew up in Washington state in the U.S.
38:45As a young man, he fell in love with communism and the USSR.
38:50The political regime changed after the fall of the Berlin Wall,
38:54but he didn't.
38:55He remains loyal to Russia.
38:57This is, um, this is Mother Russia.
39:00This is, um, yeah, it's emotional.
39:05Yeah.
39:06I got this before I ever came to Russia.
39:08I have it that says freedom, solidarity,
39:11and then the communist star.
39:13Now I added, I have another piece to it.
39:16I think there's a communist symbol there
39:18or something like that.
39:19It says, kill the capitalist.
39:22He personally set up this room upstairs.
39:28We just have a little weight room
39:30that we do when we do, uh, conditioning stuff.
39:33We have enough for, like, the, like, little stuff right now.
39:38Jeff Monson's political career began four years ago.
39:44He requested Russian citizenship back in January 2016
39:49and was granted it by Vladimir Putin as he's a fan of MMA.
39:54Here, he took a moment to remember Lenin.
39:57And today we're here celebrating Vladimir Lenin.
40:01Well, his body's passed away, but his spirit's gonna live off.
40:08Since moving to Russia, Putin allowed him to get elected.
40:15In exchange, the fighter has his mentor's face
40:18on his T-shirt at every match.
40:21Free publicity, even though Monson
40:23isn't the champion he once was.
40:26MMA's given and taken a lot from me.
40:32It's taken my eye.
40:33It's taken my body.
40:35A lot of, it's a lot of pain, a lot of sacrifice.
40:38Just being in Russia, a lot of people had to come down
40:41and make this happen for me to be a citizen of Russia.
40:44Um, there's a lot of people that had to make sacrifices and stuff.
40:47Now it's time for me to give back.
40:49Um, and I, I love this.
40:51I really love this country.
40:52But Jeff Monson isn't just Vladimir Putin's
40:55poster boy.
40:56He assured us that he's 100% committed
40:59to helping people in his community.
41:01The only issue is that he doesn't speak a word of Russian.
41:05So, he is always accompanied by a translator.
41:08I'm doing a talk tomorrow in Moscow.
41:10But I think it's, I think, I think it's like 11 or 12.
41:15I think.
41:16He was stopped for a photo every couple of yards.
41:23His campaign ran on recycling, which he hammered into his voters
41:28in a series of online clips.
41:30Now it's my time.
41:40Now, it's my time.
41:53We matter most of it.
41:55We're clean from Moscow.
41:57He wanted to show that he is still passionate about the cause, but even here, he wasn't
42:14up to scratch.
42:15So these are, this is, um, this one looks like it's, um, compost, like whatever, and then
42:23the, like the recycled thing that got picked up, but like the same thing, but this, this
42:30stuff was like never seen of, never seen before in Russia.
42:33Like, this is just rubbish.
42:38No, it's plastic.
42:40Plastic, but there's different, uh, I don't know, like, this is what problem I don't need,
42:46I need to learn to read Russian.
42:48It's clear that Jeff was elected for his image, rather than his political ability, but he's
42:56determined to keep going.
42:58Um, well, I want to do the best I can for cross divorce and do, help the citizens here and,
43:03and work my best, um, to make life better here.
43:06It's a great city.
43:08I want to make life better.
43:09Um, after, I'd like to, um, work in the State Duma and, um, like, be able to help even more
43:15people, um, I love Russia, I love being here, so this is my goal.
43:21Only time will tell where Jeff Monson's political career will lead.
43:27In the meantime, he continues to fight and promote Putin, which is clearly his main rule.
43:33MMA has millions of spectators across the country, a lot more than those interested in politics.
43:44It's a real money spinner for businessmen.
43:48We were in St. Petersburg, the former capital of Imperial Russia.
43:53We met Greg outside the gym, where he'd just finished his workout.
43:58Before and after, for business, of course.
44:02Because it's not normal when you organize professional MMA events, and you're like a fat guy, you know?
44:08This is not normal.
44:10We just talk together with my partners and think we need to upgrade the body.
44:15Greg Alinian, a 35-year-old businessman, has made his fortune in MMA.
44:20I'm not a fighter, and I don't like martial arts.
44:23I don't like it.
44:25For business, it's more interesting for me.
44:26Before fights, I do many different, try to, many different business.
44:30Well, I try to sell spaghetti in a sports shop when I go to an institute in university.
44:36I try to rent more scooters, but it don't have a potential.
44:42The street fights, I think, is a big potential.
44:44Eight years ago, he launched a street fighting competition that now runs all over Russia.
44:52In parking lots or on vacant land, he brings amateur fighters together, free of charge, and streams it all online.
45:01The first event was like $400, maybe.
45:05We bring sand from another construction plate.
45:08We take two guys for a build ring, crazy.
45:10It's very cheaper, you know?
45:11One guy, he's like blind.
45:14He cannot see.
45:15It's a very old guy.
45:17This brings in millions of views and millions of rubles.
45:22Start to head, 30 experts.
45:24Expert.
45:26Greg has even set up a live betting system.
45:29You beat, you make money.
45:31KO, $100.
45:34I'm old guy.
45:37Okay.
45:38Let's get going.
45:39Greg invites us to his luxury apartment in the city center.
45:47There's many pictures here.
45:49Look, it's beautiful art.
45:51It's really beautiful.
45:52High energy because it's obstruction work.
45:56Old house, like old paintings.
45:59This is my favorite place, like my collection, girls.
46:05Yeah, it's cool.
46:07I like the girls in the picture.
46:08I don't like it.
46:10This, I'm tired, too much.
46:13It's my grandfather and my brother.
46:15And this is my dog.
46:17Because this dog died too.
46:19But Greg isn't only passionate about art and his pets.
46:27My small collection.
46:32Weapons.
46:33Wow.
46:33Yeah, it's good.
46:35It's a very good quality, you know, because only two straws, because it's like a KGB model special line.
46:42Very beautiful.
46:43This is, you know, like a AK-47, but it's like a vapor gun.
46:48A little bit the same, but for legal.
46:53This is guns.
46:55It's a popular model, too.
46:57It's like a number one for protect gun in Russia.
47:01I have good friends in military, KGB, and police.
47:05And sometimes we go together for shooting, go for special education, for all.
47:12His pride and joy was hidden in this drawer.
47:16This is gifts from YouTube.
47:20Street Fighter Srelka for passing one million subscribers.
47:24Next, but we need one, maybe 10 million subscribers.
47:29This is the place where we organize street fights by Franchise.
47:41Greg refused to disclose exactly how much he earns.
47:44The only information he wanted to share was that his revenue has doubled each year for the past eight years.
47:51To keep the business alive, Greg relies on those fans of fighting, who are ready to step in the ring in front of the cameras.
47:58One of these fans is 24-year-old Danilo.
48:02From when is he here?
48:03Oh, yeah.
48:05He lives in this basement apartment in Moscow.
48:09His bedroom lies behind this boiler room.
48:11His sports equipment, some medals, and protein powder.
48:18And, of course, the flat-screen TV for MMA video games or real matches.
48:23His life has changed since launching his fighting career.
48:29Danilo has since fought in the ring 12 times and remains undefeated.
48:56His new passion hasn't earned him any money yet, so he works part-time jobs on the side to pay his rent.
49:03He dreams of joining the pros one day, and this is the path he must take to get there.
49:08Danilo brings us to visit his father, who has been supportive since the very start.
49:13He earns a decent wage working in business, but he doesn't want to help his son financially.
49:17This is my belt for another, first place in absolute weight category.
49:24You're proud?
49:24You're proud of.
49:25So, you're proud of.
49:26You're proud of.
49:27You're proud of.
49:29All of the worst in the front is ahead.
49:32And now we're happy with the strong, not have a good hard one.
49:36He has reached the horizon.
49:39He was naked.
49:42Well, he's gone.
49:48He's on a long distance.
49:50He went forward.
49:56Danilo's dad trains him daily in his garden,
49:59in the run-up to every fight.
50:06What will I do?
50:08It's very difficult to feed children.
50:13There's a lot of greed.
50:15Internet, drugs, alcohol and so on.
50:18Of course, everyone wants to do anything and get everything.
50:23He should be ready for everything.
50:27I told him that I lived in my childhood in such a way,
50:34where I couldn't be able to fight.
50:40Danilo has a fight scheduled for the next day.
50:43He's under a lot of pressure,
50:45not only to avoid injury,
50:47but also avoid disappointing his dad.
50:51We meet Greg, amateur MMA fight organizer,
50:54in the parking lot of an industrial block.
50:57It's the big day.
51:02Always the same routine.
51:04His employees set up a ring,
51:06some sand and some seating for the audience.
51:09The fights will then be streamed online.
51:12The idea is simple.
51:22Everyone is allowed to fight.
51:24No medical certificate or specific training required,
51:27as long as you're ready to fight.
51:29The show is free for spectators,
51:32and the fighters aren't paid.
51:34The only one earning any money here is Greg.
51:37A hundred men turn up on this particular day.
52:01There isn't enough space for everyone,
52:03so Greg turned half of them away.
52:05I look on energy people.
52:07If I see a good energy, interesting story,
52:09I connect together,
52:10because it's most interesting.
52:11We have a more popular video,
52:13making 20 million views and more,
52:14because we choose interesting stories,
52:16you know?
52:17Truck driver versus another guy crazy,
52:18I'm a rugby player.
52:19Just one final step before jumping into the ring.
52:22Every fighter must sign a waiver,
52:24confirming that should they get injured,
52:26the organization isn't liable.
52:28The most anticipated fight was with undefeated Danilo.
52:43His father was in the audience to support him.
52:46He was fighting a chef from a Japanese restaurant,
52:49who has also won every match he's fought in.
52:52He's been nicknamed the Sushi Man.
52:55Sushi Man has the upper hand early on.
53:10Clearly raging Danilo fights back,
53:20but in his haste performs one of the few banned moves in MMA.
53:26The fight gets going again, and ends in a brawl on the ground.
53:49Danilo uses a strangling technique, Sushi Man taps out.
53:55Danilo, exhausted but elated, once again brought home another victory.
54:11His grand prize is a backpack provided by the sponsor.
54:17Greg plans to organize fights in all of the Russian republics before heading out across the world,
54:23preferably with his protege alongside him.
54:26He fights because he fights.
54:41Danilo's dream is to go pro, so he can finally get paid to take punches.
54:46It's a tough route to take, as opportunities are rare, and there's a lot of competition.
54:51In both Russia and all over the world, MMA has become a true phenomenon.
54:56It's estimated that 1.2 billion households follow the sport.
55:01Far from just fights in parking lots, it's now one of the most popular sports in the world.
55:07In the world.
55:08In the world.
55:09In the world.
55:14In the world.
55:15Nor'election are associated with big limitations
55:20Gregory's happinessbows.
55:21But we can't absorb the Moi stroke as hell.
55:23But no, everybody wants to win!
55:25We'll be the most popular and popular in the world.
55:27After the most popular sport imperfections
55:32Performing your choice.
55:34Encyclopedia of Japan is the modern way to explore lehighlyHzCreate.
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